Editor’s note: For more on any of the works and artists, please visit the websites indicated at the end of each entry.
The works of three distinctive artists will be displayed inside the Scripps Mansion for patrons touring the house throughout Scripps Days.
A rare look at selected works of the late Kiichi Usui, renowned painter and former Curator of Meadowbrook Art Gallery at Oakland University, will be available in the mansion’s spectacular Music Room.
The room creates a perfect backdrop for the stunningly beautiful paintings and portraits, which blend Japanese and American styles and themes.
Usui, who was friends with Yoko Ono while living in New York, became associated with Andy Warhol and pursued abstract painting before coming to Michigan (www.art-spirit.net/frmes/Hki.html).
Patrons touring the house will also be treated to the bronze sculpture series, ‘The Seven Sisters? by Maria Testaguzza.
Testaguzza uses traditional bronze sculpture techniques in creating her pieces. This series explores the impact of catastrophic events on women across cultures, and will be featured in the mansion’s Master Bedroom Suite on the second floor (www.mtsculptures.com).
Other works on display in the mansion include those of local award winning Plein Air artist, Janet Almstadt-Davison.
Almstadt-Davison is well known for her work featuring Michigan’s landscapes and natural settings.
Her works will be hanging in the house’s Gallery Hall, where the Scripps family formerly hung European masterworks (www.glpapa.com/JanetAlmstadt-Davison.htm).
For more on the work of James Scripps Booth see the second page of this wrap-around section.
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‘Live Art? on the Grounds
Almstadt-Davison will also be painting during the event in the mansion gardens, heading up the ‘Plein Air Painters at Scripps,? a group of independent artists who will be utilizing the estate’s historic architecture and landscaped grounds (newly listed on the National Register of Historic Places) as the unique backdrop for their own paintings.
Nineteen artists in all can be observed over the two-day ‘Scripps Days? event, painting in outdoor conditions to capture their work ‘en plein air,? or in the open air. Patrons can purchase the Plein Air artists? pieces nearing completion or finished works on display.
For those interested in something really hot, Albert Young and the Michigan Hot Glass Workshop will be performing unique demonstrations of glass blowing and hot glass work. Young, a celebrated fixture in the Detroit art scene who has exhibited his sculpture all over the world, will be working on site on Saturday and Sunday (www.michiganhotglass.com/about_us.htm).
Tom Newton, of Studio Stained Glass in Dearborn, will be demonstrating traditional stained glass work for festival attendees. Newton has worked extensively in contemporary and historic stained glass in the Detroit area for many years.
He has collaborated with the Michigan Stained Glass Census/Michigan State University Museum collections staff to track down the 1926 Detroit Stained Glass Works stained glass cartoons (designs) of the original Scripps windows (http://museum.msu.edu/museum/msgc/feb07.html).
Two of the original cartoons from the Newton collection will be displayed in the house.
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Estate-themed gifts and more
Other forms of ‘live art? will also be available at nominal fees to festival attendees.
Portrait photographer Paula Kurzawa will offer portrait sittings with the mansion and grounds as backdrop. For $20, she will provide a 10 minute sitting, and patrons will be able to choose one 4 X 6? photo print to receive after the event, or additional photos can also be ordered (call Paula Kurzawa Photography of Lake Orion at (248)814-0916).
Children of all ages can participate in their own artwork for $2-$8, depending on the project. Kathryn Price of the popular Plasterworks in Commerce Township will have an activity tent for kids offering everything from sand art (necklaces, bracelets, and bottles) to ‘sandy candy?-making of their own huge pixie sticks, to candle making, and, of course, painting their own plaster art pieces (www.plasterworks2u.com).
A gift shop will offer a limited edition commemorative ceramic art tile designed exclusively for the Friends of the William E. Scripps Estate by local tile artist Sara Frank of Iguanaworks tiles (www.iguanaworks.com).
The Friends Gift Shop will offer framed photos of the Scripps estate by Bonnie Blais, and additional unique home d’cor items specially selected for the weekend event by Blais and Shelley Peek, co-owners of Elements in Lake Orion (www.elementsonline.biz/aboutus.html).